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Gallbladder problems?

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Posted 5/16/2010 5:08 PM (GMT -5)
Is this common in Lyme? I am only on orals, no IV. Wondering if Lyme attacks the gallbladder?
Posted 5/16/2010 7:40 PM (GMT -5)
Some of the abx used to treat Lyme can cause gallbladder problems. If I were you, I'd ask your Lyme doctor about this.

I think it is also possible for Lyme to affect the gallbladder. I had huge stones and had mine removed. I don't know if it was from Lyme or just part of the family history (other women in my family have had to have theirs out too).

Take care,
Posted 5/16/2010 7:54 PM (GMT -5)
I found the information below on LymeMD.

Many Lyme patients end up with removal of the gallbladder. Lyme can infect the wall of the gallbladder and cause chronic inflammation. The fact that intravenous Rocephin is known to cause gallbladder attacks may suggest that this is a sort of Herxheimer reaction involving a gallbladder which is already infected with Lyme bacteria.
Posted 5/16/2010 9:48 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for your responses. I am awaiting a GI appt. Had what I think was a bad attack but never went to the hospital. Just wanted to get opinions. Had an ultrasound months ago but showed no stones. Heard it wouldn't show inflamation. Funny thing was my side was killing me when I was having it done and she said it looked perfectly normal. Is there a test that would show if I had an attack already? Always something huh?
Posted 5/16/2010 10:28 PM (GMT -5)
No test I know of would show previous gallbladder attacks. There is a gallbladder function test (HIDA scan, I think...) that may be abnormal if there is inflammation...but not sure.

That is very interesting about Lyme in the gallbladder causing inflammation - when mine was removed, they said it was very inflammed...I felt so much better for a while after the surgery...wish I'd known then that I was dealing with Lyme...

Take care,
Posted 5/17/2010 6:24 AM (GMT -5)
Wonder if a lot of people that have Lyme and test negative that have their gallbladder out, have it tested for bb. Do hospitals test or do you have to have it sent somewhere? Just jumping the gun a bit as if I need it out that could be my ticket to a positive test.
Posted 5/17/2010 6:40 AM (GMT -5)
More from the article on LymeMD.

The diagnosis is made with a nuclear medicine scan called a HIDA scan, with the administration of a hormone called CCK. The hormone injection will likely cause the symptoms to recur and the test will showed a low ejection fraction, indicating abnormal functioning of the gallbladder. Generally, successful treatment requires removal of the gallbladder which can be done with a minimally invasive laparoscope.
Posted 5/17/2010 10:49 AM (GMT -5)
I've had to have my appendix & my gall bladder removed, & I believe that living with TBI's un-dxed & under-txed for many years was a very large contributing factor.

I was told that my gb was inflamed, diseased, & full of stones when it was removed.

I've pretty much decided that I'm not going to share any more organs with the docs though!!! (Giggle!)
Posted 5/17/2010 11:30 AM (GMT -5)
Let's hope not! Thanks for all the info
Posted 5/17/2010 4:34 PM (GMT -5)
No lab I know of automatically tests removed gallbladders (or appendix's, or biopsies, or any other body part) for Bb. I personally think they should. So if you do have removal of the gallbladder, make sure your doctor specifically asks the pathologist to test for Bb...or see if you can get a tissue sample sent to IGeneX (call IGeneX first to make sure they can do this sort of test).
Posted 5/17/2010 4:53 PM (GMT -5)
Will do thanks for the heads up.
Posted 6/9/2010 7:38 PM (GMT -5)
I was told recently that a test was done to see if gallbladders that were removed contained the lyme spirochete and 85% of them did contain the bacteria. I do have gallbladder problems and I don't have lyme. So probably there may be a connection to lyme disease.
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